Kenai Council expected to scuttle Harbor Commission

Citing difficulty in recruiting committed people to serve, the Kenai City Council is expected to vote tonight to eliminate the city’s Harbor Commission.

The duties of the commission, which include developing a master plan for physical development of the city’s harbor or port facilities, would be redistributed to the city manager and the Planning and Zoning Commission, according to city manager Rick Koch.

The council also is slated to hear a presentation on weed awareness by Janice Chumley from the University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service. Koch said an area along the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai has been identified as having invasive weeds.

“It’s in the state’s right-of-way, but we take care of mowing and watering as long as it’s in town,” he said.

Although an appropriation ordinance is on the agenda for funding the Wildwood Avenue water main project, Koch said he will seek postponement because the five bids received for the work were all too high. He is asking the council to reject all five bids.

“We have re-advertised the project, and may not need additional revenues,” Koch said. “We have eliminated the construction of a new meter vault from the project. We will re-use the old one.”

City administration will also ask the council to amend a purchase authorization of land referred to as “Tract A,” which had been approved previously for use as a water well site.

Koch said he would like to expand the authorization to allow the land to be used for “a public purpose” beyond solely a well site.

The 10-acre parcel of state land is along Togiak Street near Beaver Loop.

The council also is expected to consider a resolution showing support for the development of the copper, gold and molybdenum mine at the Pebble Prophyry Prospect near Lake Iliamna.

The resolution states that Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd., developer of the mine prospect, demonstrates a commitment to the residents of the Bristol Bay Region, Lake and Peninsula Borough and Kenai by providing up-to-date information on their plans; the company ensures adequate environmental protection for wildlife and other subsistence resources; and the project will result in hundreds of high-paying, long-term jobs available to Alaska residents.